Setting: Henson Creek
Characters: Arizona, Galen, Jim, Mom, Dad, Aunt Suzie, Carpenter, Narrator
Theme: Inspiration
Great-aunt Arizona was born in a cabin on Henson Creek. Her family got a letter from her brother, Galen, to name her Arizona. She was tall, wore her hair in braids, wore long full dresses, a white apron, high-button shoes, and petticoats, and liked to grow flowers. She liked to read, sing, and square dance. She played with her brother and helped her mother. She went to a one room schoolhouse. Then one day, her mother died so she had to stay home to help take care of her little brother, Jim, and her Papa. Her Aunt Suzie eventually invited her to stay with her while she taught. When she returned home, she taught at her old schoolhouse. She wore the same things and taught her students about faraway place she hadn't gotten to go but they could go someday. She got married to the carpenter that helped her build the new school and became Mrs. Hughes. She also eventually had a baby girl. Her and her students would plant Christmas trees together each year. She taught for 57 years, taught Jim's only song, the narrator, and their brother. She died on her 93rd birthday and never got to go to any far away places, but she travels with her students in their minds.
